Plier type stapler



Feb. 13, 1968 F'il'd June 23, 1966 G. M. LA POINTE PLIER TYPE STAPLER '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GABRIEL M LAPO/NTE INVENTOR.

Feb. 13, 1968 G. M. LA POlNTE 3,368,731

PLIER TYPE STAPLER Filed June 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. [2

GABRIEL M. LAPO/NTE INVENTQR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,368,731 Patented Feb. 13, 1968 3,368,731 PLIER TYPE STAPLER Gabriel M. La Pointe, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Parker Mfg. Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 23, 1966, Ser. No. 559,795 10 Claims. (Cl. 227l24) This invention relates to a stapler and, more particularly, to apparatus arranged to fasten sheets of paper together by means of a staple.

In the development of the art of stapling, there have been machines developed for use as desk staplers for stapling together pieces of correspondence and the like; there have been construction staplers for stapling fiberboard and the like into wood backing; and there have also been developed staplers to be held in the hand for stapling together several sheets of paper, as in the case of the top folds of a bag. More specifically, in stores, it is common practice to place the merchandise in a bag and to staple the purchase slip over the top of the bag so that a customer who has already paid for his merchandise is easily identified as such. These so-called pliertype staplers have suffered from a number of handicaps. Generally speaking, they have been expensive, complicated, and easily rendered inoperative. At the same time, they have been heavy and awkward to use. These and other difiiculties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a stapler which is light in weight and which may readily be used as a portable stapler where the stapler is to be held in the hand.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a stapler which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is capable of a long life of useful service with a minimum of maintenance.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a plier-type stapler which can be actuated with a minimum of force on the part of the operator.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a stapler which is easy to load with staples.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stapler which is simple in construction and not easily rendered inoperative.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structural forms as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a stapler embodying the principles of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the stapler,

' FIG. 3 is an end view of a portion of the stapler as observed from the right-hand side of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an end view of the stapler as observed from the left-hand side of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line VV of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of 'the invention taken on the line VIVI of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the invention taken on the line VIIVII of FIG. 5,

FIGS. 8 and 9 are, respectively, plan and side views of a nosepiece of the stapler, and

FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 are front and side elevational views, respectively, of another element of a staple-driving blade associated with the apparatus.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the stapler, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10,. is shown as consisting of an elongated housing 11 to which an anvil arm 13 is attached by means of a pivot pin 12. The other end of the housing 11 is provided with a stapling channel 14 in which is slidably carried a staple-driving blade 15 which is mounted for movement transversely of the housing 11. At the other end of the anvil arm 13 and underlying the stapling channel 14 is an anvil 16 of the usual type. Extending between the intermediate portions of the housing 11 and the anvil arm 13 is a coil spring 17 arranged to bias the two elements to an open position. Associated with the housing and the anvil arm is an actuating handle 18 provided in its intermediate portion with a roller 19 which engages an intermediate position of the anvil arm 13. One end of the handle 18 is connected to the staple-driving blade, while the other end is pro vided with a gripping element 21 having a surface suitably configured to promote non-slip action. The end of the housing 11 adjacent the pivot 12 is also provided with gripping surfaces 22 formed as part of a cover 23 held in place by a latch 24. A coil spring 25 extends between an intermediate portion of the housing 11 and the handle 18 through an aperture 26 in the anvil arm 13. The spring 25 biases the housing and handle apart so that the ends provided with the gripping element 21 and the gripping surfaces 22 are normally substantial distance apart.

As is evident in FIG. 3, the anvil arm 13 is formed as an upwardly-directed U-shaped channel held by the pivot pin 12 between sides 27 and 28 of the housing 11. The cover 23 is generally T-shaped having a main leg that extends downwardly between the sides 27 and 28 and between the sides of the channel-shaped anvil arm 13. It carries a rod 29 which extends longitudinally of the housing 11, for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

FIG. 4 shows particularly well the manner in which the housing 11 is provided with a nosepiece 31 which cooperates with the staple-driving blade 15. The handle 18 is bifurcated and provided with two legs 32 and 33 which lie along the sides 27 and 28 of the housing 11, respectively. The staple-driving blade 15 is guided in its vertical motion because it is provided with a spline 34 which rides in and is guided by a vertical slot 35 formed in the nosepiece 31.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, which show the internal construction of the stapler 10, it can be seen that-the latch 24 is a generally U-shaped strip of metal which is biased downwardly by a coil spring 36 which lies in a bore 37 formed in the cover 23. The legs are bent outwardly to form fingers 38 and 39 which normally reside in notches formed in the upper edges of the sides 27 and 28 of the housing 11. Welded to the bottom of the housing 11 is an upwardly-directed U-shaped track 41 adapted to carry staples and suitably sized for this purpose, the staples being presented in the form of a conventional cartridge which straddles the upper edges of the channel. To press the staples along the channel toward the stapling channel 14, a staple pusher 42 is provided which underlies the staple-driving blade 15, which rides along the track 41, which is provided with an apertured finger 43 which slides along the rod 29, and which is biased by a coil spring 44 surrounding the rod 29. As is evident in FIG. 6, the cover 23 is provided on its under side with a track 45 which has outwardly extending flanges which grasp inwardly-directed flanges 46 and 47 extending inwardly from the upper edges of the sides 27 and 28 of the housing 11, respectively. It should be noted that the inner end of the rod 29 is stamped to provide outwardly-directed wings 48 to prevent the finger 43 from leaving the rod, for a purpose which will appear as the description progresses.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, it can be seen that the nosepiece 31 is formed of sheet metal with a vertical body 49 which is provided centrally with the vertical slot 35 described previously. At the lower end, the nosepiece is bent back to provide two fingers 51 and 52 which embrace the sides of the housing and are fastened thereto to hold the nosepiece in place. At the upper end it is bent rearwardly to provide a horizontal table 53 which overlies the stapling channel and the staple-driving blade 15. This table is provided with laterally-extending fingers 54 and 55 which lock into notches in the upper edges of the sides 27 and 28 of the housing 11. In FIG. 1 can be seen the manner in which a finger 54 resides in the notch 56 at the upper edge of the side 27 of the housing. The formation of the staple channel in this manner provides for very strong construction, despite the fact that all of the elements are formed of sheet metal stampings.

FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 show the features of the stapledriving blade 15. As is evident from the drawing, it is formed of sheet metal and the spline 34 is pressed from the body of the element by stamping. Extending laterally from the upper end are fingers 57 and 58 which extend through suitable apertures in the legs 32 and 33 of the handle 18 and are retained in the apertures by a slight protuberance at the outer end of each finger. In addition, these fingers slide in vertical slots formed in the sides 27 and 28 of the housing. In FIG. 1 is shown the manner in which the finger 58 resides in a slot in the side 27 and an aperture 59 formed in the end of the leg 33 of the handle 18.

An important element of the invention has been reserved for the end of the description. As is evident in FIG. 1, the side 27 of the housing 11 is provided with an abutment 61 which contacts an intermediate portion of the leg 33 of the handle 18. The side 28 of the housing is similarly provided with an abutment (not shown) which is engaged by an intermediate portion of the leg 32 of the handle 18. In order to define the stapling channel 14, a U-shaped clip 62 (see FIG. 5) is provided between the sides of the housing, the stapling channel being defined by the web of this clip, the nosepiece 31, and the sides of the housing.

The operation of the apparatus will now be readily understood, in view of the above description. In order to operate the apparatus (assuming that staples are in place within the stapler) it is only necessary to grasp the handle 18 and the housing 11 in one hand and insert the articles to be stapled, such as the folded top of a bag with a sales slip wrapped around it, in the space between the anvil 16 on the anvil arm 13 and the underside of the housing underlying the stapling channel 14. The right-hand ends of the housing 11 and the handle 18 are squeezed together. As they are brought together and the gripping element 21 approaches the end of the housing in which the rivet 12 lies, the roller 19 engages the underside of the anvil arm 13 and presses it upwardly against the bias of the spring 17. At the same time, the ends of the legs 32 and 33 of the handle 18 are pressed downwardly on the fingers 57 and 58 of the staple-driving blade 15. This blade begins to move downwardly in the stapling channel 14 and is guided in this movement by the sliding of the spline 34 in the slot 35 formed in the nosepiece 31. Eventually, the anvil 16 strikes the underside of the material to be stapled as a staple is being projected from the housing by the staple-driving blade 15. The staple goes through the material to be stapled, strikes the anvil, and is folded under in the usual way. When the squeezing action is reversed and the users hand is opened, the handle 18 returns to its original position under the impetus of the spring 25, the intermediate portion of the leg 33 of the handle 18 striking the abutment 16. At that time, the handle has raised the staple-driving blade to the top of the stapling channel 14 so that the fingers are in the high position shown in FIG. 1.

In order to place more staples in the staplers, it is only necessary to pull upwardly on the fingers 38 and 39 of the latch 24. This permits the fingers to move out of the notches in the upper edges of the sides of the housing so that it is possible then to grasp the cover 23 and move it rea-rwardly. The cover in its longitudinal motion is guided by the interaction of the track 45 with the flanges 46 and 47 at the upper edges of the sides 27 and 28 of the housing. As the cover is drawn rearwardly, eventually, the wings 48 formed in the inner end of the rod 29 strike the finger 43 and pull the staple pusher 42 rearwardly along with the cover so that, when the cover reaches its extreme position, the staple pusher 42 is moved well to the right in. FIG. 5. It is then possible to drop a cartridge of staples on the upper edges of the track 41. Then the cover is moved to the left again until the latch 24 snaps into locking position.

It can be seen that the present apparatus makes efficient use of stamped metal parts in forming a rugged construction which is not easily rendered inoperative. The persons who use staplers of this type are inclined to be careless in their use and the design which has been evolved is practically foolproof. The present construction permits the ruggedness of this type of operation and yet does so in an inexpensive manner. By molding the cover 23 of plastic and the gripping element 21 of the handle 18 of the same material, not only is a pleasing appearance obtained, but suitable gripping surfaces are provided. With the construction used, the mechanical advantage is very great, so that a considerable stapling force is obtained without a great deal of strength on the part of the operator. This is important in stores where the sales clerks are often women who would, otherwise, not have strength to operate such a device.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stapler, comprising (a) an elongated housing having at one end a stapling channel in which is mounted a staple-driving blade for movement transversely of the housing,

(b) an elongated anvil arm hingedly attached at one end to the other end of the housing and having at its other end an anvil located in opposition to the stapling channel, and

(c) an elongated actuating handle having a roller in its central portion which contacts the central portion of the anvil arm and an end which is connected to the staple-driving blade for the actuation thereof.

2. A stapler as recited in claim 1, wherein a coil spring extends between the intermediate portions of the housing and the anvil arm to bias them toward open position and to press the anvil arm against the roller of the actuating handle.

3. A stapler as recited in claim 1, wherein a coil spring extends between the housing and the actuating handle through an aperture in the anvil arm to bias the said other.

end of the housing and the other end of the handle to substantially-separated position.

4. A stapler as recited in claim 1, wherein the said end of the actuating handle is bifurcated to provide two legs which lie on either side of the housing and wherein the housing is provided with an abutment on each side, which abutment is contacted by an intermediate portion of a respective leg.

5. A stapler as recited in claim 1, wherein the said other end of the housing and the other end of the handle are provided with gripping surfaces.

6. A stapler as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with a cover adapted to slide longitudinally to expose the interior of the housing for the loading of staples.

7. A stapler as recited in claim 6, wherein the housing is provided with a track along which staples slide to arrive at the stapling channel and wherein the cover is driving blade is provided with a spline which slides in P with a Spring-loaded Staple P1151161 which Slides a slot in the end of the housing and is guided thereby along the trackduring the said movement.

8. A stapler as recited in claim 6, wherein the housing and cover are provided with interengaging track sur- 5 Refe e Cit d faces and with cooperating latch means to retain the UNITED STATES PATENTS cover In closed position.

9. A stapler as recited in claim 4, 'wherein the staple- 8 1 nn 227-129 driving blade is provided with fingers which extend 2,859,443 11/1958 Jopp 227-456 through transverse slots in the housing and lie in aper- 10 3,103,012 9/1963 Kohen et a1. 227-125 tures in the legs of the handle.

10. A stapler as recited in claim 1, wherein the staple- GRANVILLE CUSTER, Primary Examiner- 

1. STAPLER, COMPRISING (A) AN ELONGATED HOUSING HAVING AT ONE END A STAPLING CHANNEL IN WHICH IS MOUNTED A STAPLE-DRIVING BLADE FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY OF THE HOUSING, (B) AN ELONGATED ANVIL ARM HINGEDLY ATTACHED AT ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSING AND HAVING AT ITS OTHER END AN ANVIL LOCATED IN OPPOSITION TO THE STAPLING CHANNEL, AND 